Patagonia hosted its first-ever Midwest wetsuit repair event for the Great Lakes surf community over two days earlier this month.
Photo courtesy of Patagonia.
Wetsuit Repair Weekend, which ran from May 2 to 3 at Patagonia’s Fulton Market store in Chicago, offered free wetsuit repairs on wetsuits made by any brand. The repairs were performed onsite by Patagonia’s wetsuit forge team from Ventura, California.
“This was an incredible activation, rooted in a deep surf community found smack dab in the middle of the U.S.,” said Buddy Pendergast, a wetsuit engineer in Patagonia’s wetsuit team. “It’s these kinds of experiences that drive who we are.”
The team repaired more than 30 wetsuits through the weekend, helping local surfers extend the life of their gear, reducing waste, and reinforcing Patagonia’s commitment to circularity in the outdoor industry. Visitors also got to see the repair process first-hand while connecting with the experts who build and fix the brand’s gear.
This Chicago stop marked Patagonia’s first wetsuit repair activation in the Midwest, after years of touring coastal surf hubs across North America. With growing energy in the Great Lakes surf scene, it certainly won’t be the last.
Patagonia has also been touring this spring to connect anglers with its wader repairs services as part of the company’s commitment to sustainability and extending the lifespan of outdoor and surf products.
Patagonia staff and local surfers even got to enjoy a surf on chilly Lake Michigan when it delivered a spring north windswell.
“Fun, bouncy waves were had, with smiles stretching across our hooded faces,” Pendergast said.
Photo courtesy of Patagonia.
In the evening, Patagonia was joined by Chicago Surfrider, Greenhouse Surf, and Five Lakes Surf Club for Surf Night, which brought more than 50 Great Lakes surf enthusiasts together to talk about outdoor gear and sustainability, surfing, and the importance of community.
Kate Robertson can be reached at kate@shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com.
